Spring assembly



,5 T. WUEST SPRING ASSEMBLY May 12, 1959 Original Filed June 10. 1953 IN VEN TOR. 54/145, T Wl/EST BY l Aii-Uks" United States Patent M SPRING ASSEMBLY Elmer T. Wuest, Cincinnati, Ohio Continuation of application Serial No. 360,629, June 10, 1953. This application September 25, 1956, Serial No. 612,031

1 Claim. (Cl. -260) This invention relates to a spring assembly formed of a multiplicity of coil springs interconnected one with another in the assembly, and it relates more particularly to a spring assembly of the type described having improved resiliency in the border or edge portions for improvement in the use of fabrication of mattrasses, spring-filled cushions and other cushioned structures.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 360,629, filed June 10, 1953, and entitled Springs for Mattresses and Cushions, now abancloned.

It is an object of this invention to produce an improved spring assembly for use in mattresses, cushions and the like, and it is a related object to produce an assembly of the type described having a strong, resilient border section for improvement in the characteristics of the multiple coil spring assembly.

Another object is to produce a coil spring assembly of the type described in which the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs are connected directly to the more rigid, resilient border frame members in a manner which increases the stiflness at the rim portions of the coil spring assembly and which provides for a more permanent arrangement between the elements in their assembled relation. I

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a corner section of the spring assembly embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the spring section shown in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a spring assembly drawn to a smaller scale, but embodying the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing for an illustration of the concepts of this invention, the numeral represents a plurality of coil springs, preferably of hourglass shape, aligned in a plurality of crosswise and lengthwise rows 12 and 14, respectively. The coil springs in the crosswise rows 12 are arranged substantially in side-by-side relation while a spaced relation exists between the coil springs in the lengthwise rows 14.

Helical tie wires 16 extend lengthwise between the top terminal coils 18 of the rows of coil springs to interconnect the adjacent coils of each of the coil springs which are in side-by-side relation, and to interconnect the lengthwise rows of coil springs thereby to join the springs into a composite spring assembly. Other helical tie wires 20 extend in the same fashion lengthwise between the bottom terminal coils 22 of the coil springs to interconnect the coil springs crosswise one to the other and to interconnect the crosswise rows of coil springs one to the other in the assembly. To enhance the interconnection between the adjacent coil springs in the crosswise rows, the lateral portions of the terminal coils 18 and 20 of each of the coil springs are offset outwardly to provide 2,885,693 Patented May 12, 1959 flattened edge portions 24 which extend in side-by-side contacting relation over a greater distance, thereby to enable more turns of the helical tie wire 16 to be wrapped about the adjacent coils.

The assembly is provided with upper and lower border frame members 26 and 28, respectively, which extend completely about the assembled coil springs with the upper border frame member 26 adjacent the outer' edges of the upper coils of the coil springs outermost in the rows and with the lower border frame member 28 adjacent the outer edges of the lower coils of the coil springs outermost in the rows. The border frame members may be formed of rigid resilient material such as of plastics, wood or the like, but it is preferred to form the border frame members as spring metal members of heavier crosssection than the wires forming the coils of the coil springs. While the border frame members are preferably formed to a rectangular cross-section, elements of round or other shape may be employed.

Instead of interconnecting the upper and lower border frame members with the adjacent coils of the outermost coil springs, as by means of a helical tie wire or other means heretofore employed in the trade, an improved assembled relation is effected, in accordance with the practice of this invention, by turning the outermost portions of the terminal coils about the border frame members for direct engagement therewith.

Construction of this character is employed in the assembly fabricated in accordance with the teaching of the Swiss Radermacher Patent No. 52,637. In the construction of the Swiss patent, the terminal coils of the coil springs outermost in the rows are, however, offset outwardly to provide a section far offset from the remainder to be wrapped about the border wires when the latter is spaced a substantial distance outwardly from the spring coils. This provides for an undesirable softness in the spring action of the spring assembly which has made it necessary to employ additional brace members for imparting stiffness to the edge portions of the mattress or other spring-filled cushions for proper operation.

In accordance with the practice of this invention, an assembly having markedly improved characteristics is achieved by arrangement of the border frame members inwardly a substantial distance from the outer edges of the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs so that, prior to assembly, the border frame members 26 and 28 overlie a substantial portion of the terminal coils of the coil springs to locate the border frame members substantially in vertical alignment with the spring coils of smaller dimension making up the remainder of the coil spring. This brings the border frame members more directly in operative alignment with the principal lines of force existing through the coil springs.

The portion of the spring coils overlapped by the border wire is sufficient for wrapping about the border frame member, as illustrated at 30, more completely to tie in the border frame member into the spring coils and in alignment with the concentration of coils of the coil springs, as distinguished from being offset therefrom. This provides for greater resistance to deformation of the border frame members and the edge portions of the spring assembly, thereby to provide the effect heretofore secured by the use of auxiliary spring elements, such as spring arms arranged between the border frame members to stiffen the edge portions of the assembly.

When the border frame members are tied in with the outer edge portions of the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs in offset relation from the coil springs, as in prior constructions, the edge portions of the spring assembly are too soft and too easily depressed under load. It is more desirable to provide for greater resistance to depression at the edge portions for greater comfort in use and for improved spring action. These desirable characteristics are achieved by the system described. At the same time, the coil springs are tied in more completely with the border frame members in a manner which resists displacement and in a manner which is capable of maintaining a desired assembled relation notwithstanding the direction of the applied force in use.

It will be apparent further that the location of the border frame members in a more 'efiective relationship with respect to the coil springs of the assembly will provide for a better reaction to load from'various directions and with greater resilience for return to normal position.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A multiple coil spring asesmbly comprising a plurality of coil springs of hour glass shape arranged in crosswise and lengthwise rows, resilient means extending between the rowsof coil springs for interconnecting the adjacent coil springs one with the other to form an integrated assembly, a top border frame member and a bottom border frame member arranged about the assembled coil springs adjacent the top and bottom terminal coils respectively of the outermost coil springs in the rows with the border frame members positioned to extend as a cord across the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs to subdivide the terminal coils into an inwardly extending portion and an outwardly extending portion the latter of which is Wrapped about the border Wire to effect an interconnection therebetween and to position the border frame members in substantial vertical alignment with the outer edges of the intermediate coils of least diameter in the coil springs of hour glass shape thereby to position the border frame members in substantial vertical alignment with the major axial forces capable of being developed by the engaged coil springs when said springs are in loaded condition. 

